Pbjming charge



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM H. BUELL, OF NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT.

PBIMING CHAR-GE.

No Drawing especial ut1 1ty in igniting the various smokeless and blackpowders when used in center fire and rim fire ammunition. I The purposeof my invention is to produce a priming charge which is particularlysuited for use with powders as now em-- ployed in fire arms, andparticularly small arms, such charge producing an explosion of not toogreat local pressure, and of suflicient heat, and leaving substantiallyno harmful residues; in its specific form, my invention contemplates themodification of the flash of the priming char e, giving it greaterlength, and the additlonal advantage that, unlike fulminate of mercury,which is commonly used in primers, there can beno amalgamation withresultant deterioration of the metal of the primer cup or shellcartridge.

the same to According to my invention I produce a priming charge bymixing, intimately, a detonating salt of trini'troresorcinol with asuitable nitrated organic body. For instance, I may mix four parts bywei ht of normal lead trinitroresorcinate wit one part by weight ofnitrocellulose and mix salt.

In place of nitrocellulose I may employ some other suitable nitratedorganic body, such as for instance, one of the aromatic nitro-compoundsas trinitrotoluol' or dinitrobenzene; the aliphatic nitro-compounds,such as tetranitromethane. While the proportions most suitable for themixture may Specification of Letters Patent.

produce a substantially homo- Patented Aug. 5, 1919.

Application filed July 21, 1916. Serial No. 110,493.

differ with various substances and also with various powders inconnection with which the mixture is to be used, they are easilydetermined by anyone skilled in the art. I desire it to be understoodthat it is possible that some nitrated organic bodies in combinationwith a detonating salt of trinitroresorcinol may not produce a primerhav ing the explosive qualities above described and that I thereforeinclude in my invention the use of such bodies only as will in suchcombination produce such a primer.

It is also to be understood that the term, detonating salt oftrinitroresorcinol, refers to such salts of trinitroresorcinol as willdetonate and are suitable for use as a primer.

I may also add other substances to my priming mixture, thus, chlorate ofpotash or some other oxidizing compound, as the perchlorates, nitrates,and peroxids of barium, potassium, sodium, etc., may be added to themixture or in part substituted and nitrocellulose alone and will havethe i additional advantages of an increased flame. The proportions mayhave to be varied under different circumstances and conditions and withdiiferent materials and with different po ders, but they can readily beascertained oy anyone skilled in the art.

The mixtures above specifically referred to, either of two, three orfour substances, constitute a uniform mass. of a bright el-. low colorwhich may be moistened wit a gum solution and then .introduced into theprimer cup, where it is seated under heavy pressure and may then, ifdesired, be covered with paper or foil or by a thin film of collodionor' m. w An anvil of any suitableconstruction may then be inserted intothe cups. When the primer is to be used in rim fire ammunition, it ispreferably given the treatment with the gum solution and then driveninto the annular rim of the cartridge shell by centrifugal force. It maythen be covered with collodion.

The priming mixtures described in the above specific examples arehomogeneous in character and of the proper igniting qualitiesso that ahot and uniform flame is produced without an excess of normal pressureand with a minimum of harmful residue or none at all. The flame producedhas the proper velocity and intensity to ignite the powder charge beforeimparting any appreciable motion to it before ignition and thus eifectsan explosion having the maximum pressure near the breech of the gun andnot one which is delayed until the charge is near the muzzle, theportion of the barrel least adapted to withstand bursting pressures.

he subject matter of my invention must not be confused with detonatorsnor with priming charges which are not suitable for use in fire arms. Tomake a priming charge suitable for use in fire arms, it must not be tooviolent in action, but must, on the other hand, be capable of beingexploded by the action of the firing pin or other firing mechanismstriking against the casing which contains the charge. I

When I speak in my claims of a priming charge I refer to an initialpriming charge and not one that must either be ignited by another,separate, initial priming charge, or have admixed therewith a moresensitive substance than the salt of trinitroresorcinol referred totherein.

I claim:

1. A priming charge containing a mix- .ture of a detonating salt oftrinitroresorcinol and a nitrated organic body, substantially as and forthe purpose described.

2. A priming charge containing a mixture of a detonating salt oftrinitroresorcinol and nitrocellulose, substantially as and for thepurpose described.

3. A priming charge containing a mixture of normal leadtrinitroresorclnatc and a nitrated organic body, substantially as andfor the purpose described.

4. A priming charge containing a mixture of normal leadtrinitroresorcinate and nitrocellulose, substantially as and for thepurpose described.

5. A priming charge containing a mixture of detonatlng salt oftrinitroresorcinol, a nitrate'd organic body and an oxidizing compound,substantially as and for the purpose described.

6. A priming charge containing a mixture of a detonating salt oftrinitroresorcinol, nitrocellulose and an oxidizing compound,substantially as and for the purpose described. 1

7. A priming charge containing a mixture of normal leadtrinitroresorcinate, a nitrated organic body and an oxidizing compound,substantially as and for the purpose described.

8. A priming charge containing a mixture of normal leadtrinitroresorclnate, nitrocellulose and an oxidizing compound,

-substantially as and for the purpose described.

9. A priming charge containing a mixture of normal leadtrinitroresorcinate, nitrocellulose and potassium chlorate,substantially as and for the purpose described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

WILLIAM H. BUELL.

